is the administration prepared to go over the fiscal cliff? >> oh, absolutely. again, there's no prospect to an agreement that doesn't involve those rates going up on the top 2% of the wealthiest americans. remember, it's only 2%. >> reporter: that danger not enough to keep congress in session. it's already quit for the week as most lawmakers assume correctly, they are not players until there's a deal. president obama, in a meeting with some of the country's largest corporations demand that congress raise the debt ceiling without any strings attached. >> if congress in any way suggests that they're going to tie negotiations to debt ceiling votes and take us to the brink of default once again as part of a budget negotiation, i will not play that game. because we've got to break that habit before it starts. >> reporter: the president sees the fiscal cliff showdown as an opportunity to break that linkage for good. republicans say they will not increase the debt ceiling now $16 trillion and due to expire in february without more deficit reduction.